Pakistan’s Bible Ban

Pakistan’s Islamist party, Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islami (JUI), has petitioned to have the Bible banned from Pakistan because it violates the nation’s notorious blasphemy laws. The move by the JUI is just the latest episode in the ongoing and increasingly deadly persecution of Christians in that Islamic nation.

According to JUI leader Maulana Abdul Rauf Farooqi, the Bible contains passages that show biblical figures whom Muslims regard as prophets (such as Abraham and Solomon) to be engaging in “a variety of moral crimes.” As such, the JUI has called on Pakistan’s supreme court to have the entire Book banned from the country if the offending passages are not removed.

While the JUI acknowledged its petition was partially in response to the Koran burning organized by Florida pastor Terry Jones in March 2011, it also dismissed the notion that banning the Christian Bible would cause additional trouble between Muslims and Christians.

Unfortunately, that is not what Pakistan’s tiny Christian community believes. Pakistani Christians have found themselves under continuous assault from both government authorities and Islamist mobs. That may explain why Pakistan’s Christian leaders urged restraint in wake of the Bible suit, fearful of further antagonizing Pakistan’s more fervent Muslims.

For his part, Farooqi was confident that Pakistan’s highest court would side with the JUI petition. However, his certainty may have less to do with the merits of his case than with the fact that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have proven to be a reliable legal cudgel with which to bankrupt, beat, jail and kill Christians.

As a spokesman for a Catholic advocacy group says the pervasive use of the blasphemy laws have ratcheted up Christian fears to unprecedented levels, leading them to “have no faith in the police or justice system.”

Evidence for their fears was on full display recently when a Pakistani anti-terrorism court acquitted 70 Muslims accused of attacking and setting fire to over 50 houses and two churches in a Christian colony in July 2009. In that assault, eight people — including a seven-year old child — were burned alive and 20 others wounded.

Perhaps more disturbingly, many Pakistani Islamists believe killing a blasphemous person earns a heavenly reward. As a result, extra-judicial killings are common. Since 2009, at least 30 Christians accused under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have been killed by mobs of Islamist vigilantes.

According to a spokesman for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, “The problem is that all these extrajudicial killings remain unpunished. For religious minorities it is a crucial issue, since it affects the fundamental rights of every person.”

Unfortunately for Pakistani Christians, Pakistan’s blasphemy laws contain no provisions to punish a false accuser or false witness. Consequently, the laws have often been used to settle personal scores rather than to defend against perceived sleights to Islamic piety.

For instance, a Christian mother of five children has been in prison in solitary confinement since June 2009, after a verbal disagreement with some women in her village led to her being accused of having blasphemed against Mohammad.

In November 2010, a Christian farm worker was accused of uttering blasphemous words against Mohammad during an argument with fellow workers and sentenced to death.

In May 2011, a group of Muslims — at the behest of a former member of parliament — attacked the houses of two Christians in order to force the owners to transfer the land ownership over to the politician.

Sadly, Christian children have not been spared the effects of this relentless persecution. For example, a young Pakistani woman claimed Christian children required to take Islamic studies in school are in danger simply “if they write anything or misspell anything to do with the prophet Mohammad.”

Frank Crimi is a San Diego-based writer and author of the book Raining Frogs and Heart Attacks. You can read more of Frank's work at his blog,www.politicallyunbalanced.com.

Reuben

How crazy must western countries be to let in even a single Pakistani muslim? Non-muslims should be greeted with open arms and we should sympathise with the escape they'v been through…Muslims on the other had need to stay put. The mere fact that such things happen openly and frequenty in Parkistan is proof enough that the majority of the population support such behavior. If they didn't they wouldn't allow these things to happen…but they do…what else can one conclude??

jacob

REUBEN :

And how are you going to tell them apart ??

Don't you know that the "Holy" KORAN advises the "faithful", to lie and cheat
about their true faith when inconvenient or dangerous ??

And isn't our "ally" Saudi Arabia policy to remove and destroy any Bible found
in the baggage of visitors ???

Then why wonder what PAKIS are doing to Christians and GOD forbid, they
would be doing to JEWS ??

By the way, noticed how many Pakis there were or still are at Canadian
customs ???

ashmorris

I find it funny that they complain about the Bible's portrayal of righteous people. Look at what Islamic books say about Mohammed. He was apparently a rapist, murder, pedophile, liar, and thief.
Also, it shows just what is wrong with Islam. Judaism believes that no one is perfect. Not even its prophets. Their messages are from G-d, through Divine Inspiration but on a personal level, they're human like the rest of us. One of the Bible's main points is that we all have issues. We need to follow G-d in order to straighten ourselves out. No one is perfect except for G-d , so there is no one person here on earth whose behavior you can thoughtlessly copy. The Muslims believe that Mohammed was perfect and that they all should follow his example in everything. That's why they can be so sick and think nothing's wrong with it. Mohammed did it, and since he's "perfect" it must be right.

Johnny

PURE IGNORANT HATE ramblings from a TRUE Christian…. where is thine love for thy neighbor???— WWJD??????

mike

Are you drinking the juice again, Johnny? Where was the hate in what ashmorris said? I think it was a good dose of the truth. Mohammed was pedophile and murderer. Thats a fact. How is the truth pure ignorant hate? You've just showed what a blind devotion to ignorance and to the left looks like. HeeeeeeeerrrRREESSS Johnny!

SpiritOf1683

Yep, he needs parachuting into Mecca during the Hajj with a kippot superglued to his head. He'd then see the meaning of real hatred.

jad

hilarious!!!!!

58TROJAN

There is a lot of fuss today in the wiped out press about the GOP Presidential debate. They are talking of the terrible "loyalty oath." I thought that is what every naturalized citizen takes; so why shouldn't Muslims coming here do the same

Amused

All the more reason [and they are numerous ] to GET OUT OF AFGHANISTAN ASAP ! The only reasons we give these backstabbing doublecrossers money , is to maintain a supply line through Pakistan , for our forces in Afghanistan . ENOUGH !!!

LindaRivera

Muslims have emigrated in huge numbers to Europe, UK, Australia, Canada, America and other Western nations with the exact same belief system.

There are many no-go Muslim areas in Europe, UK, India and Israel where it is too dangerous for non-Muslims to enter. In some areas in Europe, the hate for non-Muslims is so intense that ambulances require a police escort to enter Muslim areas. The response to this shocking situation is to continue taking in Muslims and to prosecute in court the brave heroes who warn of the terrible dangers.

Making a mockery of all of the many brave heroes who fought and gave their lives in the world wars so that we could live in freedom.

USMCSniper

Moderate Muslims don't criticise other Muslims for no other reason, other than they are Muslim. It is the Islamic version of Lenin's commandment " A Communist must never criticize another Communist to a Capitalist."

steven l

No comments from BHO or Holder!!!!!!
Moderate Muslims are scared of Islamists and by definition non-violent!
The US cannot count on them to fight extremists.

WilliamJamesWard

Disgust and revulsion are become the description of Muslim conduct no
matter what the Nationality. Pakistanis have shown their true nature and
it is fallen below the acceptable standards of criminals, but what do they
care? Getting rid of Islamists isn't only necessary it is vital to our peace.
William

http://www.daily-verses.com john

Yap, i have Heard about this news, it is really very sad for Pakistani Christians,
But we must pray for them, and hope for the best,
[Peace] <3

Ronald W. Carnine

Moderate Islam is a myth. It does not exist because the Koran CANNOT be interpreted moderately. Christians need to realize that we cannot give up our Bible and we cannot give up what God has given us, namely our children. It is time for us to remain silent no more. Please write letters to newspapers, contact your congressional leadership. Collect articles and send them to those who should be informed about the activities of Muslims. If you are able, support financially those organizations that speak out what Islam truly believes. Also, mention to those authorities that you oppose strongly muslim immigration and the use of your tax dollars to support Islamic countries. Don't give up and don't forget to pray.(also, don't forget to support Israel)

mike

Islam has proven itself time and time again to be a disease on society. I say we give the christians in the Middle East several years to leave and then we turn the area into glass with nukes. We vaporize all muslims in these shady, troubled, and terror ridden countries. Its what it will eventually come down to. When you have people in the world who believe that their religion is superior and that you either have to convert, submit and become a slave, or be killed, you're dealing with a dangerous ideaology. Its kill or be killed. When will everyone realize this? There isn't any reasoning with a people who want to destroy you. Was Hitler reasoned with? I think not. He was hunted down like a rat. Islam is the new Hitler. So go ahead Americans, keep taking lessons in sensitivity and acceptance. Its your funeral. Death is knocking on your front door and your slowly pulling back the deadbolt. There will come a day and it may not be in our lifetime, but there will come a day in America when we will have to pick up arms and make a choice……..kill or be killed?

mike

*Ideology

The_Lord_Regent

Pakistan has to go. Really. Time to help Baluchistan (South West part) break away and for a more rational country. This part of Pakistan is more secular, less muslim, more civilized. It could serve as a place for other civilized folks (read: non-muslims) to relocate.

skulldiggerin

Why call them "fervent Muslims" ? No political correctness required, Mr.Crimi.
They are fanatical bloodthirsty rabid Islamic hybrids of hyenas & jackals.
Not even animals, not even beasts but sub-beasts, worthy son of their father Satan.
A curse and a plague on yur house, Islamic Paks. U will die in yur millions
by yur own nutkes when they go off in yur cesspool known as Islam.